DAVE Watson and Glenn Hoddle were unanimous in their condemnation of referee Phil Dowd after last night's Worthington Cup tie at Prenton Park.

Dowd sent off Tranmere's Micky Mellon after just 31 minutes for a second bookable offence, while Tim Sherwood was also dismissed in the second half.

Neither manager was completely happy with red cards, but it was the penalty which really angered Watson.

"It was potentially going to be a good game but it was spoilt by the referee," insisted Watson.

"People pay good money to go and watch games but the referee ruined it for everyone.

"There is no need to watch the match video to know it wasn't a penalty. That decision kicked the players in the gut.

"I'm constantly preaching the importance of not talking back to the referee and not letting decisions influence your performance because sides need to remain disciplined, but after decisions like that one you can understand why they got frustrated.

"I am not going to complain about the sending-off because it could be argued that Micky Mellon was deserving of two yellow cards but it was the penalty that killed me.

"There was nothing in the game in the opening 15 minutes and we had a couple of chances but decisions like that change games."

Even Spurs boss Hoddle was staggered by the penalty decision after just 20 minutes.

He added: "It wasn't a penalty in my opinion.

"The referee was poor. You couldn't defend him after that. I don't like taking refs to task because they get enough criticism as it is, but that performance wasn't good enough. You get criticism when you are a player or a manager and so referees should take the same flak if they are not good enough."

The Rovers manager instructed his players to say nothing about the referee for fear some of his players would earn fines from the FA.

But that didn't stop Watson running that risk.

However, his criticism was not aimed purely at the referee.

Watson felt Spurs' Teddy Sheringham was guilty of taking a dive for the penalty.